Darragh Scully
2004413
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Mary and Bob had
been married for 20 years and had two daughters, Sue aged 18 and Betty aged 15.
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The relationship
between Mary and Bob had never been smooth and on at least 6 occasions Bob
had beaten Mary to the extent that she received hospital care.
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On Tuesday the
14th of March 1995, Sue and Betty confided in Mary that their father had
sexually assaulted them both since they were 13 years old.
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Mary was shocked
and appalled and confronted Bob about it the next day. He didn’t deny the
accusations but refused to respond.
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Nothing
significant happened for some time and neither Mary nor Bob moved out of the
Matrimonial home.
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On the 3rd
of April Mary shot Bob in the head and killed him whilst he was asleep.
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In statements to
the police, Mary stated that she recalls washing up after dinner on the 2nd of
April, however ‘cannot recall getting the gun from the safe in the house
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Nor can she
remember using the gun to shoot Bob.
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The only
fingerprints on the Gun belonged to her, her neighbors found her sitting on the
bed, looking at Bob, holding the gun, and crying, “what have I done?”
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Mary is charged
with willful murder.
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She pleads that
she was in a dissociative state and has no recollection of the events.
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She pleads not
guilty.
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Discuss Mary’s
options pursuant to the provisions of S.’s 23, and 27 of the criminal code.
